Mount Rushmore

One of the more noticeable effects of the federal government shutdown has been the closure of national parks and national monuments across the nation. National parks are important to us as a nation: they allow us to escape from our busy “modern” lives and return to nature. For the communities around our national parks, tourism is …

The state of South Dakota has never been on my list of exciting places to visit. After spending the past few days there in the mountains they call the Black Hills, I realize it should have been. There aren’t many parks or forests in the state as a whole but the southwest corner near Rapid …

Rapid City may not be your first thought for a vacation destination but with the Black Hills to the west, and the Badlands to the east, this small city on the edge of the Great Plains is an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Known as the City of Presidents, Rapid City is South Dakota’s second …